Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on WX1BOX.org: The 2019 NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training Class Schedule for the spring season [has been posted]. Please distribute widely to anyone interested in becoming a SKYWARN Spotter! Additional SKYWARN Training classes are in planning. This includes a class in the Rowe/Charlemont, Mass area, Granby/Hartland, CT area, Western Hampshire County Massachusetts, Eastern Franklin County Massachusetts and potentially other locations in Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts. Another update will be posted to the schedule in one to two weeks. There will also be a slate of SKYWARN classes in the Fall of this year. [Full story]

The Maynard Wicked Local online newspaper featured a story with numerous photos on March 18, 2019 entitled, “Ham Operators Train for the Worst.” “Ham Radio operators from around the area held a drill Monday morning, March 18, 2019, to coordinate coverage in a simulated case of a tornado strike in Hudson, Maynard, Stow and Acton. With the Amature (sic) Radio Emergency Service base in the Stow Fire Department, participants logged in from towns around the area, thereby confirming the coverage available in times of emergency. “

Brett Smith, AB1RL writes: The annual Run of the Charles is a fundraiser for the Charles River Watershed Association to support river cleanup and research efforts. This year the event will have completely new routes. The longest route is 14 miles and begins at the Newton Boathouse. All routes end at Artesani Park in Brighton. There are assignments available at various times throughout the morning into the mid-afternoon along the river between Newton and Brighton. To sign up, simply write me back and let me know: Your cell phone number Your shirt size Any time or location constraints on your volunteer availability …

The annual MS Walk Boston raises funds for multiple sclerosis research and patient advocacy. The event uses amateur radio spotters to track participant progress and ensure their safety. This year’s event features a streamlined, more accessible route. The MS Walk Boston is on Sunday, April 7. You’ll check in at 8:00 AM and stay until the early afternoon. Lunch is available at the finish for volunteers. To sign up, register online, then mail Rick Savage, KB1LYJ to let him know you’re on the team.

Ralph Swick, KD1SM writes in the March, 2019 issue of NVARC “Signal”: Sunday, April 28 will be the 28th running of the Groton Road race. The Groton Police Department and the Race Committee are again formally requesting support from the Amateur Radio community for logistics and safety communications for this high-profile event. The Groton Road Race has been a major event for Amateur Radio in North Central Massachusetts. [The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club] has been coordinating the ham participation since the second year of the event. Many NVARC members are 26-year (soon to be 27-year) veterans. Those of you …

Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT, writes on the CAARA list: It’s that time of the year again. Public service 2019 is starting with the YuKanRun Fool’s Dual 5K on March 31. CAARA has a great public service team. Come out and have some fun with us. Why? You are using Amateur Radio to provide a needed public service to ensure the safety and smooth running of a public event in local communities. “I would but I do not have a radio.” No excuse, we have loaner radios available with a magnetic mount that will work in your car just by just plugging …

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Boston/Norton Massachusetts will be sponsoring a severe weather spotter training session, part of its SKYWARN program. The session is open to the public at no charge. Amateur Radio operators, emergency managers, police, fire, and other first responders are encouraged to attend. Everyone age 16 and older who stays to complete the training will be able to become trained NWS weather spotters. The training session includes a two-hour thirty-minute computer-based presentation, which discusses the development of thunderstorms, the criteria for “severe” thunderstorms, as well as the cloud features associated with severe thunderstorms and tornados. Additional …

The Minuteman Repeater Association has named Bruce Pigott, KC1US, as its Public Service Coordinator. According to a February 21, 2019 tweet on the organization’s Twitter page, “Communications regarding public service scheduling and/or requests for MMRA resources for public events should be communicated to KC1US.”

Thanks to input from: Chris Winczewski, K1TAT; the Cape Ann ARA; Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF; the North Shore RA; Brett Smith, AB1RL; PART of Westford; and the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association we’re pleased to present a comprehensive list of public service events in Eastern Massachusetts in 2019. If your club is sponsoring a public service event and would like to be listed, please contact Phil Temples, K9HI, at <k9hi@arrl.org> for inclusion.

Hello Everyone, Net Control for the March 2,2019 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH, The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club . The net will commence at the usual time of 10:AM using the following repeaters in the order listed. 1. Attleboro 147.195 Mhz tone 127.3 2. Boston 145.230 Mhz tone encode 88.5 decode 100.0 3. Plymouth 146.685 Mhz tone 131.8 4. Simplex 147.42 Mhz The Net will then return to the Attleboro Repeater for final comments and Net closing. NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the …

The ARRL Board of Directors at their last board meeting approved the new ARES Strategic Plan and on Tuesday 2/19/19 put out a press release on the strategic plan and a link to the finalized ARES plan. Details can be found at the following links: New Plan Aligns ARES with the needs of served agencies ARES Strategic Plan Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be following these plans and will make adjustments to the ARES workshop materials to reflect the new ARES structure and strategic plan.

The Massachusetts Governor’s office announced on Wednesday 2/20 that Samantha Phillips will be the new state director of the agency replacing Kurt Schwartz after 30 years of public service in various roles in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Details on the new state director and the changes in MEMA leadership can be seen in the following state press release: Baker-Polito Administration Names Samantha Phillips as MEMA Director

Registration has been open for the 2019 Boston Marathon for Amateur Radio Operators across the start, course, finish and with transportation medical buses. Volunteer registration is open through Wednesday February 6th and though arrangements can be made with the Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Committee to volunteer after this deadline, we are hoping to get all needed volunteers prior to the February 6th deadline. For volunteer information registration and information, please see the following link: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/event-information/volunteer-information/volunteer-registration.aspx If you are interested in volunteering for the 2019 Boston Marathon but are not sure at this stage about whether you can participate, we …

A few months ago, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency conducted a survey for all local community emergency management directors across the Commonwealth. The survey was specifically about the use of amateur radio and RACES locally within their community, whether each emergency manager has an appointed RACES Officer, and if not, if they would like to find one. The Radio Amateurs Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service using amateur stations for emergency management communications during periods of local, regional or national emergencies. RACES is defined in law in Part 97.407 of the FCC rules. In the event the …

The first Monday of every month, unless the first Monday is a holiday, is a test of the Massachusetts RACES and ARES communication capabilities. If the first Monday of the month is a holiday, then the test is delayed one week and will be held the following Monday. For February, the first Monday of the month is Monday Feb. 4. ******************************************************************************** 6:45 PM EST HF net: using the following frequency plan: We will start at 3930 KHz moving up to 3955 KHz until there is a clear frequency, Marc Stern WA1R will be net control. ********************************************************************************* Region 2D VHF net …

Brett Smith, AB1RL, writes: Volunteer registration is open for the BAA 5K! The race is the Saturday before Marathon Monday, April 13. Registration is scheduled to close on February 6, so please sign up in the next week to make sure we can get you on the team. The 5K and the Marathon use the same volunteer registration system. If you’re volunteering at the Marathon, please register and request a Marathon assignment (if you haven’t already). After you’re done, please e-mail BAA volunteer coordinator Mary Miller and CC: me to request to be added to the 5K roster as well. If you …

An Eastern MA ARRL-affiliated club has taken community service to the next level. PART of Westford meets each month at the Cameron Senior Center in Westford. The senior center runs a food pantry for local people in need. Each month, PART members bring non-perishable food items to the meeting, and these items are given to the food pantry. According to PART president Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, “A favorite of the the food pantry clientele is Dinty Moore® Beef Stew, and we collectively donate several cans each month. I’m told that the food pantry and its clientele are very appreciative of these donations.” …

Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator and ARES SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, was one of three featured guests on the podcast “WeatherBrains” on January 7, 2019. The 90-minute program discussed Amateur Radio, SKYWARN, and the VoIP Hurricane Net. Other guests included Jay Farlow, W9LW, and Jeff Stapel, W8SWX. The audio and YouTube video can be found at https://weatherbrains.com/?p=7531. According to Macedo, “The program was well received by the meteorological panel and those that have watched/listened to date.”

On behalf of the BAA Amateur Radio Communications Committee, we want to wish you a Happy New Year. It’s hard to believe that 2018 has come to a close and we are heading into 2019, and with the new year also comes the 123rd running of the Boston Marathon. Today, January 3rd, 2019, volunteer registration will open for the marathon which is taking place this year on Monday, April 15, 2019. The sign-up process will be the same as last year and will provide you with a direct link once registration is open. Please be on the lookout for an …

Good Morning Everyone, Net Control for the January 5, 2019 Eastern MA Hospital Net will be W1SSH the South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club. The net will commence at the usual time of 10:00 AM using the following repeaters in the order listed. 1. Plymouth 146.685 Tone 131.8 2. Boston 145.230 Tone Encode 88.5 Tone Decode 100.0 3. Norwood 147.210 Tone 100.0 4. Simplex 147.42 The Net will then return to the Plymouth Repeater for final comments and Net closing. NET Protocol: Please wait for Net Control to ask for Check-ins. When asked to check in please use the standard …